The Amazing Bugattis Exhibition

The exhibition presented at the Royal College of Art by The Observer in association with Moet & Chandon (see story on page 1832), and so tastefully designed by John Whyatt MA, brought together some of the diverse work of the talented Bugatti family, grandfather, two sons and a grandson. These photographs of a few of the exhibits attempts to show, in the words of Lord Raglan, Chairman of the Advisory Committee, “how happily art and mechanical science go together when skill in execution matches imagination in conception.” Grandfather Carlo produced the Oriental and eastern influenced furniture, while his sculptor son Rembrandt executed the carved, white marble piece, “Kneeling Woman” and the bronze “Royal Tiger”. Ettore, the elder son, created the legendary cars, while his son Jean designed the bodies for the 1938 Type 57SC Atlantic Coupe, the 1932 55 Roadster and, for his sister Lidia, 1928 Fiacre-style Type 40 Coupe, shown left to right, above, with contemporary posters. Other Bugatti cars on display included, left to right, below, a Baby Bugatti Type 52, 1934 Type 59, 1933 Type 51, 1927-28 Type 35B, 1927 Type 37 and the 1924 Type 35 prototype. The engines were art forms in themselves. On the left is a 1.5-litre, 4-cylinder, o.h.c. Type 37, below, the rare, 3.8-litre, 16-cylinder twin-bank, twin-geared-crankshaft, Type 45 and, below right, the classic 2.3-litre, straight-eight, Type 35B Supercharged GP engine.